LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE TRANSPORTATION OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS

This paper will discuss the legal requirements pertaining to the transportation of nuclear materials in the United States. It will take the viewpoint of the shipper or transporter of materials who must comply with the applicable requirements. The goal is to provide insight as to what one must do to transport materials legally. The paper will focus on the regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and will touch briefly on international requirements. It will cover the spectrum of nuclear materials, from sealed sources up to high-level nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel, to provide a helpful overview of this aspect of the industry.